STATE COLLEGE -- Penn State was at the top of the Gaelic Athletic Association's wish list when compiling possible opponents for the Croke Park Classic slated for 2014 in Dublin, Ireland.

It wasn't strictly because of past success, though that certainly helps. In this case, visibility is key in attracting fans and non-fans alike to an American sporting contest outside of the continental United States. And Penn State has it.

The Lions, along with Notre Dame, are the two most recognizable college football programs to Ireland natives, according to GAA director Paraic Duffy. The Irish played in Dublin a year ago, meaning they were out of contention for possible teams to make the voyage next August. But Penn State wasn't.

Duffy was joined by former United States Ambassador to Ireland and Pittsburgh Steelers' chairman Dan Rooney, Penn State athletic director Dave Joyner, and Central Florida athletic director Todd Stansbury before Penn State's Saturday clash with UCF. The two programs will meet again next year, with the scene shifting from Beaver Stadium and State College to Croke Park and Dublin, Ireland.

"We had been hoping to have an NFL game in Croke Park, and Ambassador Rooney had been giving us some assistance in that regard, but we didn't quite manage to convince the NFL to bring a game to Dublin," Duffy said. "So then, wee turned our attention to a college game, and over the past few months, and I think Central Florida and Penn State are two great schools to come to Dublin.

"I think [Penn State] was our first choice," he continued. "You'd be surprised the brand awareness Penn State has in Ireland. That's why Penn State was a very easy choice for us."

The team's will compete for the Dan Rooney Trophy, an honor the Steelers' chairman accepted begrudgingly according to Duffy. It wasn't that he didn't want his name associated with the trophy, but rather he thought there was another figure better suited for the honor.

Duffy couldn't disagree more, explaining that it was a way to honor Rooney's commitment to the Irish people. During his time as ambassador, he was critical in forming the American Ireland Funds, which provides funding to "build bridges of peace, culture, and charity in Ireland and Northern Ireland," according to the U.S. Dublin Embassy website.

Rooney and other Ireland officials also took part in the pre-game coin toss Saturday.

"I really didn't understand, I must admit, how they name trophies, and that becomes a big thing. That's a common thing in Ireland that they do name a trophy," Rooney said. "Peter McKenna said to me 'we'd like to name the trophy after you if we are going to play,' and I said 'I don't deserve that. You should get some Irishman.'

"He said 'No, we are going to play American football, and we think that it should be someone and we want you to do it because of what you've done and things like that as far as sports in Ireland.' So, it means an awful lot, and is a real honor for me to do this and have the trophy named after me."

Croke Park can hold 62,000 fans for American football games, though the stadium itself seats 82,000 for other Irish sporting events. The benefits of having a college game in Ireland extend beyond just the two programs and their fans, Duffy said.

He noted the GAA improves and learns from making trips like the one they made to University Park Saturday, and also that the game is another link in the long chain of positives that makes-up the relationship between the United States and Ireland.

It's something Duffy believes Penn State fans willing to make the trip to Dublin will quickly find out.

"We've seen the practical benefits over the past few days. We're always trying to improve what we offer to our patrons at Croke Park," Duffy said. "For us, I think you can't overestimate the links between Ireland and the United States. They are long standing, they are family really, and for us to welcome two distinguished colleges to Croke Park is an extension of the long links between our two countries.

"We really go out of our way to make this a great experience for everyone that travels. For us, it's an extension of the fantastic relationship that exists between Ireland and the US."